 |
| Tentmaking in Ministry |
Warfare, not welfare; the violent takes it by force. This is the song that is sung most, so it's like its warfare all the way; but what of welfare? Is welfare not also important, as important as warfare? There will be no warfare if there's no welfare, at least a little welfare that keeps one healthy enough to continue to do battle Wounded soldiers are in the sick bay not on the battlefield; and sick soldiers don't win battles.
Warfare is important, but welfare must not be neglected. It is because of welfare that God commanded that the tithes should be brought into His house so that there will be food in the house; Malachi 3:10. For who? His ministers of course. Thus there must be a kind of balance between warfare and welfare that enables you to complete your assignment and finish strong; this is the bottom line. Reason versus faith, Reality versus Hope, the External versus the Internal: that's what you are about to read in this book. Two realities, competing for the top spot in the heart of man. It's a battle between the Brain and the Heart. This book is all about the servant of God whom God has called to serve Him in the Ministry.
The ordained minister, the missionary, and the ordinary worker in the church or that involved in itinerant evangelism are servants of God subject to spiritual rules, but are living in a world with its own rules; yet they are expected to operate in such a world and remain faithful to their spiritual calling. What's more? It's a kind of situation in which their survival is of paramount importance. If they fail to live well and their needs go unmet most of the time, the work they have been called to do by God suffers a set back. Should the servant of God engage in a secular work while on spiritual assignment, or abstain from such and concentrate only on the calling? Whatever his or her decisions may be, what kind of circumstances can make such decisions justified without being condemned before God? Even if the missionary in a foreign land is justified being engaged in Tentmaking, could such justification be found for the local minister?
This book examines such other things, and brings out the hidden or almost inconsequential matters one may pass off as unimportant, but are really very important. These seemingly harmless things are actually what finally sway a minister from the real purpose of God for man. They may act as a decoy and an unsuspecting minister may not know when the real calling is abandoned.
This book that you are reading now is a product of God's ordained circumstances and His opinion.
This book that you are reading now is a product of God's ordained circumstances and His opinion.
